# Evocative visual storytelling *Authors: [Anne Pässilä](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annepassila/)* Attribution: Benmerqui, R. (2018) Making the invisible visible: evocative visual storytelling & visceral liminal documentation of process & sense-making. In Raguel Benmerqui, Allan Owens & Anne Pässilä (eds.) Beyond Text – arts-based methods in research, assessment and evaluation. https://beyondtext.weebly.com Summary --- **Art-form**^1^: Visual art and dramaturgical scripting This technique is intended to help people to be present in a situation, to use all senses, acknowledge subjectivity and make connections between ideas visible through the creation of shared artefacts via sketching techniques. Can be used to create shared, visual summaries of stories or alternative ways to view the discussions. *Evocative visual storytelling* **Requirements** * Time: can be short syncronic activity or done during a longer process * Difficulty^2^: 5 stars, requires faciliation, listening, visualisation and dramaturgical skills * What you'll need: paper and pencils (document camera is usefull or can also be drawings shared on the wall or floor) or digital visual platform * Participants: Any age group Description --- **Steps** 1. Introducing and framing: making transparent that one of the faciliators is listening and visualising conversation and activities (articulating position and intention) 2. During conversation sketching and posting them on the wall or digitally 3. Organising sketches into a storyboard 4. Inviting participants to reflect and discuss what do they found out most relevant for the purpose they are working on Example an Evocative report by artist Laura Mellanen & researcher Anne Pässilä 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQasQFNYW5I **Usefull references**: Vince, R. and Warren, S. (2012) Participatory Visual Methods. In Gillian Symon & Catherine Cassell (eds.) Qualitative Organizational Research: Core Methods and Current Challenges. Sage. Van der Lugt, R. (2000). Developing a graphic tool for creative problem solving in design groups. Design Studies, 21(5), 505–522. Hyerle, D. (2009). Visual tools for transforming information into knowledge (2nd. ed.). London: Sage Publications Ltd  **Which stage to use it in** * Any stage that needs reflection and inspiration **Why it is useful** Evocative way to capture conversations; emotions, ideas, and visions. Creates a space for example action planning and strategy building **How to document** Camera **Analysis** Content analysis *Footnotes* ^1^ Categories are based on Sara Coemans and Karin Hannes. 2017. Researchers under the spell of the arts: Two decades of using arts-based methods in community-based inquiry with vulnerable populations. Educational Research Review 22 (2017), 34–49. ^2^ 1-5 stars, I star being easy to facilitate and do not require deep artistic skills and 5 stars requiring deep level artistic skills. ###### tags: `art-based methods guide` `book` `method`